Life is easy kya karein

Yesterday I spent a lot of time in front of the television . I was watching the Rath Yatra at Puri and actually listening to the commentator as he explained the significance of  many of the rituals. Aastha channel was covering Morari Bapu's Ramayan live at Vatican city. Wanted to watch both at the same time. The telly time was, because I was getting bird net put on all the windows. Three workers were working in the three rooms of the house. Kitchen was the only place to go to and the food was cooked. There was a lot of conversation on whether I should put the bird net, what is the costing like, where can I get the best rate, who will do the best job and will they be reliable. Final choice was between two young boys from Uttar Pradesh. One had just started his own business after leaving his job. The other boy worked for a Bori Muslim 'Seth'. The new kid on the block was enthusiastic but little arrogant. He said they do contract all household work like electrical, plumbing,...

The sea water logging in Mumbai in non monsoon time, is a strange phenomena. Two lanes away this sea water was gushing in and we were completely unaware. I got the news through friends from Delhi who were suffering severe heat wave.  With 4.5 metre height of the waves, people could not stand the force, I shudder to think how the tsunami waves were. Yesterday 12th June 2014, Vatt Purnima was celebrated in Maharashtra. On this day, married ladies pray to the Banyan tree and tie a white thread around it for the being 'sadaa suhaagan'. Sadaa Suhaagan means the husband is alive and the wife lives with him happily. Savitri prayed for the long life of her husband and got him back from the clutches of Yamraj, the God of death.  Today is Jal Abhishek in Orissa of  Lord Jagannath at Puri.  As it is is very hot in summers in Orissa,  and then on Snaan Purnima which is the full moon day, the Lord spends a lot of time bathing. With the heat and long hours in the w...

Working in the hotels in the Sales and Marketing department, I had attended lot of corporate, art and social events. Going for these, meeting people, taking their business cards, networking and making contacts is what most of these events were about. We just did it as a part of work which we did not like but could not avoid. Now after years, a friend Monalisa Mukherji invited me for her book launch, a collection of poems written in Hindi.  I was awe struck with the warmth and genuine feel of the space at the venue "Title Waves". These were not people hired by the publicist to welcome you and shove food down your throat. They were real people just like the Kavita written by Mona. No pretense in the launch anywhere. The guest list included Imtiaz Ali, Irshad Kamil and Mita Vashisht. Ritika Sahni who is a friend, singer and runs an NGO called Trinayani, introduced everyone and one could never guess who she was talking about. She had warmth and ease with the guests and the pe...

Early morning whatsapp messages were about Gopinath Munde being involved in an accident and is critical. Very soon Twitter was flooded with his passing away. He was just alone, unescorted. He asked for water from the driver. The car did not look so badly damaged. He was declared dead by the hospital after attempts to revive him failed. In the mean time, friends were talking about his sudden death. Why couldn't someone revive him? Was his security not equipped with any first aid skills? Came to know later that there was no security with him. Friends saying acupuncture could have helped him in case of a heart attack. Rural Development minister in the Modi cabinet, he had worked at  grass root level in Maharashtra and in other parts of India. I remembered him during the death of his brother in law Promod Mahajan, who was shot dead by his own brother. Gopinath Munde had handled the family and really supported them. Then at Balasaheb's funeral, I saw him sitting along with the BJ...

I do not like Goa or rather I should say I never liked Goa before. I felt the same about Dubai before I went in December. May be it is a good idea to go to places one does not have a good feel about. Its a joy to come back pleasantly surprised. The feelings change and so does the place. Goa reminds me of drugs, booze and a generally decadent lifestyle of the tourists. Rather, I do not like the people who love Goa. Mumbaites run to Goa at every long weekend they get. Lots of Bollywood actors are travelling for every possible break they manage. Had a powerful star wife on the flight. Poor thing came to use the washrooms at the Goa airport. She did not even stop to wash her hands lest she get mobbed. Was never fascinated with Goa in spite of being in Bombay for so many years. We took a trip in the summer after our wedding and realised Goa was not our cup of tea. Well, who drinks tea when in Goa? We were mighty disappointed. Lot of work trips followed for both of us. I have spent many a...